The Electric Fence Problem: Unlocking Stalled Executive Teams
Nov 19, 2025This morning, I watched a former CEO client—a leader we worked with six years ago—announce their latest financial results. The figures were impressive: four consecutive years of double-digit Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) growth.
For any global organisation, this level of sustained performance is a significant achievement. But here is the critical insight the market will never see:
Those outstanding results were only possible because of a fundamental shift that occurred six years prior.
The Executive’s Blind Spot
When the CEO first took the helm, he was decisive, credible, and clear on the future direction. Yet, his experienced leadership team simply wasn’t moving fast enough.
It wasn't a capability issue, nor was it a lack of ambition. The underlying challenge was an invisible influence: the team was still operating under the shadow of past negative experiences with the board—a deep-seated fear that quietly shaped their behaviour long after the original incident was over.
We see this often. It is The Electric Fence Problem: the power is officially switched off, but everyone still behaves as if the wire is live.
In high-stakes environments, these invisible fences are the source of performance drag. They manifest as hesitation, excessive risk-aversion, and a focus on self-protection over bold, collaborative execution.
The Breakthrough Moment
Our work began by observing the team dynamics to identify and surface this hidden, fear-based influence.
Once the "fence" was made visible, the CEO addressed it immediately. His response was deliberate, non-defensive, and profoundly honest.
In that singular moment, the entire organisational foundation shifted:
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Psychological Safety and Trust were fundamentally restored.
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Challenge (the ability to question and debate) rose significantly.
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Alignment and Momentum followed naturally.
The exponential growth they are celebrating today didn't start with a new strategy or a restructuring. It started the day the deep-seated fear was strategically and decisively removed.
The Strategic Imperative
No organisation builds four years of double-digit ARR growth on a foundation of unaddressed fear. Fear slows decision-making and stifles the innovation required for sustained success.
For leaders seeking to accelerate performance, the imperative is clear: Remove the invisible fences.
It is this foundational work—addressing the unseen dynamics—that unlocks latent potential and allows teams to move faster. And in today’s environment, that speed is the defining factor for success.
Is your high-potential team operating with the power off, but still too cautious to move decisively?
If you are ready to identify and dismantle the hidden behaviours limiting your organisation's potential, let's talk about building a foundation of true psychological safety and sustained momentum.
➡️ Schedule a confidential consultation with James today [email protected]